jeudi 21 octobre 2010

Walks out of the Green Man. Stops and takes off her glasses to rub her eyes. Crosses Bell Street and proceeds to walk down Edgware Road. Hangover skies, temperature in the lower 50s. Porcelain skin, short wavy bob in autumnal tones. Swishes through the crowd, quickening her pace. Looks at her watch. Comes to a halt. Studies a shop window. Enters the shop – Henry’s, suppliers of electronic equipment. Twelve minutes later comes out of the shop with a considerably large package under her right arm. Down Edgware Road. Looks at the sun. Crosses the road at the level of Cuthbert Street and carries on under the shade of the green alders. Turns left. Down Maida Avenue. Crosses again. Walks approximately four hundred yards and stops to look at the canal, her hands gripped on the railing. A light wind picks up, brushing her dress. Barges at a standstill. Walks further down the avenue. Turns right, over the bridge, onto Warwick Avenue. Carries on towards Saint Saviour’s. Starts to struggle with the weight of her package. Takes left past the church. Walks further down Warwick Avenue. Makes a stop. Puts down her package. Takes off her glasses to rub off the sweat running down her forehead into her eyes. Lets a car pass. Crosses Formosa Street. White columns and painted entrance doors. Uphill to the end of Warwick Avenue. Building works. Crosses the two-way avenue, onto Delaware Road. On the left side of the road, walks along the white building with repetitive windows. Makes a stop and turns left. Holds her package with both hands, pushes the door with her back entering the building under a heavily decorated archway. Sculptured bearded face and fruits.

This text was written using Google street view. This is an attempt to retrace Dapne Oram’s imaginary journey from the Green Man near Edgware Road to the Maida Vale Studios where the BBC Radiophonic Workshop was based.

I have to mention that I heard of the RjDj application after it was completed (I know the application is a few years old, I’m still trying to catch up with the kids). I am now aware of the similarities between the idea of a ‘soundtrack to your life’ and what I have achieved although the process was the exact opposite.